Northern Ireland’s Political Leaders Clash Ahead Of Thursday's Elections

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Wednesday, May 4th, 2022 10:06am

By Caoimhe Harney

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File image: Twitter via @Odhraaan

NI Protocol questions dominate Stormont pre-election TV debate.

The leaders of Northern Ireland's five main political parties have faced the electorate and clashed during fiery exchanges in the last television debate ahead of Thursday's Assembly election.

Host Jim Fitzpatrick and a live studio audience grilled Sir Jeffrey Donaldson (DUP), Michelle O’Neill (Sinn Fein), Naomi Long (Alliance), Colum Eastwood (SDLP) and Doug Beattie (UUP) on BBC One NI.

The leader of the DUP was last night challenged to form a Stormont Executive.

Jeffrey Donaldson came under pressure from Sinn Féin's vice-president, Michelle O'Neill.

But he said there'd be no regional government until his concerns over the Northern Ireland protocol were addressed.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood also challenged the DUP leader during the BBC's leaders' debate:

These people in one unionist area, Belfast's Shankhill road, outlined what concerns them the most:

Political Correspondent, Virgin Media News, Gavan Reilly gave a a preview ahead of the Northern Ireland election,  on Wednesday morning's Kildare Today:

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